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Do you use the shower?

#1 User is offline   GalinAZ 

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Posted 07 February 2010 - 09:16 PM

Seems to me the showers in a TC wouldn't get much use as a shower.
When you're boondocking, it's a waste of water and when you're not why
use the teeny shower if there's a campground facility (cleanliness assumed).

What do y'all do? Do you use the shower for anything else?
What could be in the space if it wasn't a shower?

#2 User is offline   RR Hounds 

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Posted 07 February 2010 - 09:25 PM

View PostGalinAZ, on 07 February 2010 - 09:16 PM, said:

Seems to me the showers in a TC wouldn't get much use as a shower.
When you're boondocking, it's a waste of water and when you're not why
use the teeny shower if there's a campground facility (cleanliness assumed).

What do y'all do? Do you use the shower for anything else?
What could be in the space if it wasn't a shower?


We use the shower. Even if we're in a campground with showers, because I like to be in my own, where I know the floor is truly clean, and have everything close at hand. And it's easy to wipe down and dries quickly. We've got large tanks so water hasn't been an issue.

Kathy

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November 2007

#3 User is offline   wcjeep 

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Posted 07 February 2010 - 09:46 PM

We prefer to use the campground shower to help extend camper resources. However, the shower has been used on occasion.

#4 User is offline   Dean 

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Posted 08 February 2010 - 03:44 AM

The shower in our Bigfoot is pretty nice and is separate from the rest of the bath so you don't have to wipe everything down. We hardly ever use the campground shower or toilet facilities.

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#5 User is offline   Gary 

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Posted 08 February 2010 - 06:35 AM

I use it everyday and there,s nothing tiny about it I see lots of people here in this park with large fivers and parkmodels that go up to the shower house. CHEAP PEOPLE.

#6 User is online   Rick 

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Posted 08 February 2010 - 07:35 AM

View PostGalinAZ, on 07 February 2010 - 10:16 PM, said:

Seems to me the showers in a TC wouldn't get much use as a shower.
When you're boondocking, it's a waste of water and when you're not why
use the teeny shower if there's a campground facility (cleanliness assumed).

What do y'all do? Do you use the shower for anything else?
What could be in the space if it wasn't a shower?


Boondocking...Waste of water???? We've done 5 days, two people with each taking a shower everyday. All using preloaded water. Clean feels good using our dry bath shower stall, plus the bedding lasts longer between washings. Boondocking doesn't have to mean lower levels of cleanliness. We've done 5 day backing trips in our younger years and I can still remember how good it felt to get clean after that. Why even go there if you don't need to?

Also, I have a triple filter and pump system to fill up from any reasonable water source. I've done that when we were out for 7 or 8 days.

When underway, our stall transports drinking water, other assorted items on the floor and it has a clothes hanger bar across the top. I can remove that bar to shower because I'm 6'6". I can stand fully upright in the stall.

Rick
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#7 User is offline   RedneckExpress 

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Posted 08 February 2010 - 08:23 AM

View PostRick, on 08 February 2010 - 07:35 AM, said:

Boondocking...Waste of water???? We've done 5 days, two people with each taking a shower everyday. All using preloaded water. Clean feels good using our dry bath shower stall, plus the bedding lasts longer between washings. Boondocking doesn't have to mean lower levels of cleanliness. We've done 5 day backing trips in our younger years and I can still remember how good it felt to get clean after that. Why even go there if you don't need to?

Also, I have a triple filter and pump system to fill up from any reasonable water source. I've done that when we were out for 7 or 8 days.

When underway, our stall transports drinking water, other assorted items on the floor and it has a clothes hanger bar across the top. I can remove that bar to shower because I'm 6'6". I can stand fully upright in the stall.

Rick


I've noticed that the mentality is with a lot of folks that if you're camping in the bush you should for go bathing till you come home. You'll note that when my friends want to do this, I don't let them in the camper after the first couple days because of their ripeness :P.
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#8 User is offline   lloyds 

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Posted 08 February 2010 - 08:45 AM

We have a wet bath but we still use it at least half the time, even when boondocking. My wife sometimes prefers the campground showers but I seldom do. My biggest complaint is when I turn on the overhead vent while showering the d..m shower curtain clings to me. That is my biggest complaint. The shower works good. I think TC manufacturers could purchase some better fixtures to mix the water better.

#9 User is offline   Matthew_B 

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Posted 08 February 2010 - 09:16 AM

With a family of 5, there isn't enough water to use it all that often when boondocking. That's why when we travel we tend to stay someplace with showers ever 2-3 days.

If it is only the 2 of us, it gets used far more often.

#10 User is offline   atchafalaya_man 

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Posted 08 February 2010 - 12:01 PM

The shutoff valve on the head of the shower is there for a reason. Wet yourself and your wash-cloth completely. This takes 15 - 20 seconds and MAY use 1 gallon of water. Turn off the water at the shower head.

Next, apply shampoo to wash your hair, and then soap your body without the water running.

Turn on the water and begin rinsing the top of your head and work downward, eventually using the shower as a hand held for lower portions of your body.

You'll probably not use 4 or 5 gallons of water for a whole shower and you won't run out of hot water.
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#11 User is offline   Stan 

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Posted 08 February 2010 - 02:57 PM

Wife never, me once, in the driveway, to see of it worked. Seemed real strange to take a shower out in the front of the house. :62_62:
I have been a tent camper since my Boy Scout days long, long, ago. Now I need to get up off of the cold ground to get a good nights rest, a truck camper seems to be the best choice. I am here to learn as much as I can.

#12 User is offline   atchafalaya_man 

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Posted 08 February 2010 - 03:08 PM

View PostStan, on 08 February 2010 - 04:57 PM, said:

Wife never, me once, in the driveway, to see of it worked. Seemed real strange to take a shower out in the front of the house. :62_62:


Gosh, that's an echo Stan! I did the same thing on the last 2 campers I've owned. I did it to check out the capacity and performance of the water heater before actual use.

You don't have to turn off the water completely, but leaving just a pencil sized drip running while washing will keep you comfortable with a bit of warm water touching you, and prevent you from running out too soon.
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#13 User is offline   narcodog 

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Posted 08 February 2010 - 04:07 PM

I boondock 98% of the time so I use it but never everyday. I changed the shower head last year and like it much better than the original.

#14 User is offline   Muskie David 

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Posted 08 February 2010 - 04:09 PM

We have a dry shower and use it all the time. I have just installed an Extend-A-Shower which will bow out the shower curtain for more shoulder room, but we have not had an opportunity to try it out yet. And if it doesn't stop snowing here in Virginia I don't know if I ever will get to try it out. I did go up on top and shovel off about 15 inches of the heavy wet stuff. Even with saw horses assisting the jacks, that's way too much weight up there.

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#15 User is offline   Wendy 

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Posted 09 February 2010 - 10:33 AM

View Postatchafalaya_man, on 08 February 2010 - 03:01 PM, said:

The shutoff valve on the head of the shower is there for a reason. Wet yourself and your wash-cloth completely. This takes 15 - 20 seconds and MAY use 1 gallon of water. Turn off the water at the shower head.

Next, apply shampoo to wash your hair, and then soap your body without the water running.

Turn on the water and begin rinsing the top of your head and work downward, eventually using the shower as a hand held for lower portions of your body.

You'll probably not use 4 or 5 gallons of water for a whole shower and you won't run out of hot water.


We call this a "navy" or "military" shower, and it is a good practise, even when not boondocking!
Wendy & Chris
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#16 User is offline   Wendy 

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Posted 09 February 2010 - 10:54 AM

Perhaps we should qualify that you don't need to take a daily shower to remain squeeky clean. My parents full-timed in their TC for about 5 years in their late 70's. Dad built the camper himself, and did not have a shower nor a hot water tank. Every morning they would heat water on the stove to fill a bucket and each would have a "sponge bath" from head to toe. (My step-mom is Dutch and believe me the Dutch have a reputation for being spotless!!). When I inherited their TC we did the same. Hell, we even did that when we were backpacking, tent camping and even winter camping with our dog sled team!
Now I have a great dry bath in my Snowbird camper. But it still took someone to help me realize its potential. First we couldn't get hot water for more than 15 seconds. After posting a question on this forum along with a couple of photos of our plumbing we found out we hadn't turned the hot water tap on properly. By then we had gotten used to using the campground showers and using the shower as a storage area. This also meant having to put up with sometimes filthy showers, and later in the season, freezing our buns off in unheated shower facilities. How wrong we were!!! It took a fellow TCer from Massachussets to take us under his wing (and into his driveway) to show us how to properly store items, create new storage areas and so much more about living in a TC. When you use the shower as storage and it takes 10 minutes to remove everything from there, find a place to put it, and then have to put it back it really deters from the pleasure and convenience of using the shower in your own unit.
Just my 2 cents worth (I know....I am really long-winded!!)
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#17 User is offline   Charlene 

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Posted 09 February 2010 - 11:17 AM

View PostGalinAZ, on 08 February 2010 - 12:16 AM, said:

Seems to me the showers in a TC wouldn't get much use as a shower.
When you're boondocking, it's a waste of water and when you're not why
use the teeny shower if there's a campground facility (cleanliness assumed).

What do y'all do? Do you use the shower for anything else?
What could be in the space if it wasn't a shower?


We haven't had the chance to boondock yet, every campground we have stayed at have full hook-ups, so there is no issue as far as the size of the tanks.

When they get full, just dump them. I know my shower is nice and clean with no cooties!

So yes, we only use the shower in the camper!

#18 User is offline   Radioguy 

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Posted 09 February 2010 - 11:44 AM

We always use the shower in the camper, boondocking or full hookups. When boondocking we use the outside shower (weather permitting). We have a inflatable shower stall to use if camping with other people. Outside shower is also great for dirty dog paws.
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#19 User is offline   Gary S. 

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Posted 09 February 2010 - 06:28 PM

We always use our shower.
In our previous camper the shower was way to small to use.
That one was only good for children but the Lance 992 shower is great!!
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#20 User is offline   Farmer 

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Posted 09 February 2010 - 09:18 PM

With all this showering going on I just have to add my 2 cents.

I put in a new washer in the shower head that has a smaller hole, I'll explain later.

Turn on exhaust fan when you first step into shower.

When you first start you stand in the shower with a 2 quart plastic tub and turn on the hot water only, turn off water when tub is full.
Turning on hot water only, will prime the hose with hot water.
Next dip a plastic mesh shower puff in the hot water, pump 2 strokes of liquid soap on the puff and squish a few times this will give you lots of foam.
Soap down the old bod and repeat dipping till the job is done.
Wet the head then shampoo, now comes the explanation, with the small hole washer, you can turn the hot water on full and adjust temp with the cold easily, without using a lot of water, you will still get good flow with the small hole.

One more thing, using liquid soap leaves way less soap residual behind on you and the shower.

After toweling you can if you want turn off the exhaust fan 90 percent of the condensation should be gone.

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